Got a Case of the Gimmies

Got a Case of the “Gimmies”

Ok, I admit it. I have a bad case of the “gimmies”, even though I already have way too much stuff. I’ve been shopping and I really want this pair of shoes that have my name on them. Also saw some new throw pillows with a matching rug that would freshen up the look of the house for summer. But in order to buy more stuff, I need to get rid of some other stuff because my house is bursting at the seams with “STUFF”!!!

As with most recent behaviors it’s cause for reflection. It seems every newspaper and magazine article I read these days screams reuse, recycle, repurpose. So, I will own up to a bit of guilt at not making more of an effort.

Green is the new skinny preached from every magazine cover…and boy do we strut our stuff. It’s no longer cool to be “piggy”, with regard to our planets’ resources. We proudly tote our reusable grocery bags to the market and place our recycling bins on the curbside for trash day. It’s a great start, but we all know we have a long, long way to go.

Our dependence on foreign oil for energy is scary and now it seems we’ll be dependent on Al Qaeda for lithium. Aren’t batteries made from that? If the previous two statements aren’t compelling enough reasons to further change our habits, then you need not read on.

In 2007 in San Francisco, California they banned the use of plastic bags in large super markets and large chain pharmacies. Current legislation proposes to prohibit grocery stores from even offering plastic bags beginning 2012 and takes it even further to include smaller stores by 2013. The average elementary school student generates 70 lbs. of trash each year! As a country we just use too much stuff! We’re a bit like children refusing to clean up their room after being nagged continually to do so and then asking for more toys. Do we really need to wait for our politicians to legislate responsible environmental behavior?

Passing along responsibility to the next generation or expecting others to solve our problems is no longer acceptable. We’ve come to learn that there are huge consequences for our behaviors and that future generations will pay the price for either our lack of awareness or for our greediness. It’s time to show and teach our children how to be gracious not greedy. Role modeling is the best way I know of to do that.

I ask that you join me in pledging to change two or three habits for the next few months. If you don’t like my choices, even better I challenge you to make up your own. But, don’t be too easy on yourself…there are consequences.

For one month I pledge to NOT buy any new “stuff” that I really don’t need. This one will be challenging as I’ve also been eyeing this beautiful Coach purse that I’ve yet to purchase. But as I think about it, I really do not want to advertise for Coach (the labels are on the outside of their purses), and I absolutely do not want to be defined by my clothing or accessory labels! Let’s show our kids in one more way how we can be defined by our character.

For one month I pledge TO turn off the water while I’m brushing my teeth.

For one month I pledge to bring my “smartcycle” (smartcycle.com) reusable produce bags to the market to reduce the number of plastic bags I use for fruit and veges.

Here’s a thought. Choose a holiday in the next year for which your family normally buys you “stuff”. Suggest to them that instead of buying you more stuff that they make a donation in your name to a charity you’re particularly fond of. It’s a win – win….you’re demonstrating that you’re gracious and certainly not greedy!

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